4 Ways to Save Pandas
March 16 is a special holiday: it’s National Panda Day! For as long as I can remember, pandas were always my favorite animal. So in honor of this special holiday, and the adorable animal that this platform is named after, here are five ways we can help save endangered pandas!
1. Donate to wildlife conservation organizations and charities
World Wildlife Fund is the first organization that comes to mind. In fact, a couple years ago when I was in fifth grade, I sold popsicles on a beach and raised over one hundred dollars, which I donated to World Wildlife Fund. A donation of just nineteen dollars could buy five cartridges for infrared cameras used to monitor pandas in the wild! Additionally, you can receive a cute panda-themed gift such as a calendar, bag, or socks for donations as little as five dollars. Other charities that help pandas include Pandas International and the Chengdu Panda Base.
2. “Adopt” or sponsor a panda
Another way to financially help endangered pandas is to “adopt” or sponsor a panda! World Wildlife Fund offers this, as well as many other wildlife conservation groups and zoos. You can donate a small amount each month and get sent cute panda-themed items in return, or you can also purchase gifts from the online shops. You can even “adopt” a panda in someone else’s name and get an adoption certificate sent to them. Wouldn’t that make such a cute birthday or holiday gift?
3. Use less paper
This is an easy way to support endangered pandas (and all animals) for free! Simply try to use less paper. Bamboo forests are a panda’s main habitat and food source (bamboo makes up nienty-nine percent of their diet), but bamboo trees are being rapidly cut down to make paper. Using less paper is a great way to preserve panda habitats. Always try to reduce paper usage if you can, and if you can’t, definitely try to recycle it!
4. Reduce or offset your carbon footprint
Pandas, like all animals, are heavily affected by climate change. If you can, try to reduce your carbon footprint. A few ways you can reduce your carbon footprint is by eating less meat and animal products (especially beef), driving less, and carpooling or using public transportation whenever possible. Another interesting thing to consider would be paying to offset your carbon footprint. There are so many resources online that you can utilize to calculate your carbon footprint, and then pay to offset it. Programs like Carbon Footprint will help you identify your carbon footprint, and then for a small cost, help repair the damage by planting trees and working with other large corporations to be more sustainable.
There are so many ways we can support endangered species like pandas. We need to build a strong connection with nature so that we can all thrive, and live with wildlife in harmony! Happy National Panda Day!
